Monday, May 18, 2009

Aussie Icons

A recent article in The Age had a picture of three fluffy baby dingoes. Native dingoes are disappearing from Australia, and a couple in this state won the right to legally own dingoes at their Toolern Vale sanctuary. In October 2008, the state (Victorian) government declared the dingo a threatened species. Since then, international zoos and wildlife centres are asking for dingo breeding pairs. It is thought that only 5 percent of all wild dogs in Victoria are dingoes. We have yet to see (or hear) a dingo. Hard to imagine that this iconic symbol is now a threatened species. Hopefully we'll see some when we travel into less populated areas. The inriguing issue, at least for me, is that there are no laws protecting this species -- hunters, farmers, trappers, government parks employees are allowed to trap, poison, bait and shoot dinoes. (Photo from The Age, by Craig Abraham.)

That other icon, the possum, is still very active and busy on our yard and on the front deck. It's a rare night that the thunder of little feet isn't heard either on the roof or running quickly along the front deck. The other night Nicole went out to the car so we could drive to her Girl Guides meeting. As she put her hand on the door handle and flipped the light switch, there was a flurry of the herd (there appear to be 3 of the bigger possums and 2 smaller ring tailed possums) off the roof of the porch. Nicole was startled, and then we both had a good laugh ... we scared the possums! Then on Saturday night, we came home later in the evening following a Footie game at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) -- Melbourne vs. the Western Bulldogs. At least 3 of the big possums went racing up trees as we drove up into the yard. This species is protected -- you are not allowed to kill possums.

Victorians are avid Footie supporters -- we attended the game in the presence of locals, so had the rules and events of the game explained to us. In earlier days, each suburb had their own team, and part of your identity appears to be the support of your Footie team. I've not willingly enjoyed either CFL or other football games -- just find them too slow and cumbersome. However, Australian Rules Football is fun. You can't take your eye off the ball, or you're lost. And the supporters are more than avid. It was great fun! And we'll go again, to enjoy this unique Aussie icon. Gabe and Kai went with some friends to an AusKicks event, where kids gather to play a fun game, introducing newcomers to the game. They enjoyed the fast pace as well. Almost all the teams are male, although there is a female Footie team in Melbourne. One of the first things the Ferny Creek principal, Matthew, asked the kids was which Footie team they were going to support (or to use the local term, "barrack"). Of course, his team, the Geelong Cats, was recommended to us! The Geelong Cats, by the way, are a very strong team, and it's suggested they'll win the (I think) Premiership (the final game) in early spring. The final is always played on the last Saturday of September, and the MCG should be full of 100,000 barracking fans for that event.

My favourite icon is the kookaburra, as I've mentioned before. I still haven't managed to record the gaggle of birds yelling and laughing... every time I walk by with my mobile, they are totally silent. But they're happily eating up the scraps I'm leaving in the back yard, and occasionally bless me with a cackling festival! Other birds can be quite brazen. Gabe had a cookie stolen from a picnic table in front of him by a magpie. Kai chased down the magpie, which couldn't fly away with its burden, and retrieved the cookie, which had been the last one in our picnic lunch.

And Tom had an encounter with a biggish spider one day last week. He and I got into the car, and as I turned my head to shoulder check, I saw the spider standing on the headrest right behind his head. The spider was waving a leg or two in the air which is why I noticed it. We have no idea how it got there. It may have been on Tom's head all along (!), as we had walked under a big old oak tree on our way to the car, or somehow it got into the car on its own. The spider was a lighter grey/brown colour, and I don't know its species, but it was big enough to get us out of the car. I haven't seen anyone move that quickly in a while. "Tom, get out of the car, there's a big spider behind you", was all I had to say, and he leapt out of the car. I had to turn off the engine and engage the parking brake before I could fly out. We got the spider out, and it sat there on the parking lot looking stunned! Like us! This spider was about the size of the palm of my hand, legs and body included. That's about the size of a Huntsman spider that lives between a window and the screen in our living room. Sometimes it comes out, but often it's secreted in one of the cracks. I tried to usher it out the other day, thinking it would enjoy hunting more there, but it seems to be happy in its space.

Finally, the kids' school, Ferny Creek Primary, held its annual fundraising disco on Friday night. They are fundraising for the grade 6 grad, and this is another of its iconic events. Kids had to dress as something starting with the letter "P". Nicole went as a Party Girl, Kai as Peter Parker, Professional Photographer (Spidey's alias), and Gabriel as Pooh's friend (Winnie the Pooh). I saw a priest, several police, princesses in large numbers, pajama clad kids and teachers, and Matthew, eschewing the Principal role, came as Peter the Painter. A sweet event, including dry ice fog and a rocking beat. Much fun was had by all, but when I suggested the "P"arent could take part, I was gently advised it wasn't for me.

2 comments:

It was a shocker, I must say. Apparently it likely was a "baby" Huntsman spider, technically not poisonous, at least to humans. Thus the beige/grey colour... I think they get darker when they get older.

The one who lives between the screen and window feels safer, and it takes off when I get too close.

Snow Days

Back in Canada

Date and Ginger Oaties

I've mentioned the date and ginger cookies by the Byron Bay Cookie Co. I'm still looking for their recipe, but have been experimenting with a few of my own, and have found a fig and ginger recipe that can be adapted and gets quite close to the Byron Bay original!

Sift flour into bowl, stir in oats, coconut, sugar, dates and ginger. Combine butter and golden syrup and water in pan, stir over low heat (or use microwave) until the butter is melted. Stir hot bubbling mixture into the flour mixture.

Shape 2 level tsps of mixture into a ball, place onto greased (or use paper) oven tray. Flatten slightly. Allow about 5 cm between cookies. Bake in moderately hot oven (180/350ish or a bit hotter) for 12 - 15 minutes (depends on size of cookie) or until slightly browned.

Lay the sliced oranges on a platter and scatter over some of the radish, sliced thinly. Grate the remaining radishes and mix with the carrot.

Mix olive oil, cumin, cinnamon, orange blossom water and lemon juice, and season with salt. If you can't get the orange blossom water, just leave it out... I have tasted a salad with it as a dressing and it's amazing, but don't stress about finding it if it isn't easily available. Pour the dressing over the grated carrots and refrigerate for 15 minutes. To serve, pile carrot and radish mix on top of the orange and radish slices, and dust with a little cinnamon.

Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat and add the laksa paste, stirring occasionally for 2 min. Add the sugar and cook until dissolved. Add the coconut milk, chicken stock and kaffir lime leaves and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the lime juice, fish sauce, chicken slices and prawns (add prawns later if you wish), and getnly poach them until just cooked.

Drain the rice noodles. Divide the noodles, tofu and bean sprouts among four large bowls and ladle over the soup, chicken and prawns. Top with shallots and coriander leaves.

Spring Flowers

Suzannah Espie

Parrot Visitor

Singer Alex Lloyd

Pennywhistle by Augie March

Orange and Almond Cake

Ingredients1 large orange3 eggs1 heaped cup castor sugar1/2 tsp baking powder (increase if not using s.r. flour)1 cup almond meal1/3 cup S.R. flour (the brand used in the original recipe is gluten-free, I think)

Method1. Place orange in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook 1 hour or until orange is very soft. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Remove seeds from orange and place in food processor/blender. Blend orange, including skin, until smooth. Cool.2. Preheat oven -- 180 - 200 C.3. Grease and line 20 cm springform pan with baking paper.4. Beat eggs, sugar and baking powder until thick and pale.5. Mix orange pulp into egg mix.6. Whisk flour and almond meal together and fold into egg and orange mixture.7. Pour into prepared tin.8. Bake 45 minutes. Insert skewer into centre of cake to ensure cake is cooked. This cake is slightly moist when finished.9. Cool cake in oven. (Turn oven off first!)From Dianne Boyle.

1. Heat oven to 180C. Roast beetroot in oven on baking tray for 35 minutes or until tender. (I did not wrap in foil.) Cool when finished, peel skin, and cut into wedges.2. To make dressing, combine oil, vinegar and brown sugar. I didn't have red wine vinegar so I used a sweetish red wine we have in the house and combined it with the oil, and some white wine vinegar. Season with cracked pepper and salt.3. Place beetroot in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and marinate if you have time. Add the spinach and gently toss to combine. Serve sprinkled with goat's cheese and walnuts.

Adapted from taste.com.au

Cate's Scones

We are in the final throes of winter. The following scone recipe is courtesy of Cate, our neighbour.

Method1. Set oven at 220 C.2. Rub butter into flour and salt, using the fingertips.3. Mix into a soft dough with milk. Add a little milk if required.4. Turn on to a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic.5. Roll out 2 cm thick and cut into shapes.6. Arrange on oven tray and glaze tips with milk.7. Bake at 220 C for 10 - 15 min.

Ned Kelly helmet

Anzac Biscuits

Method:1. Mix oats, flour, sugar and coconut together.2. Melt syrup and butter together.3. Mix soda with boiling water and add to melted butter and syrup.4. Add to dry ingredients.5. Place teaspoons of mixture well spaced on a greased baking tray.6. Bake in a slow oven for 12 - 15 minutes at 180C.

Watch them. Every oven is different and they can dry out quickly. Makes up to 50 (small, obviously; we got about 25 biscuits out of this recipe).

Passionfruit buttercake

125 g butter, melted300 g (2 cups) self raising flour (or add 1.5 tsp baking powder)1/3 cup buttermilk2 eggs, lightly beaten1 cup sugar1 tsp lemon zest2 passionfruit, to serve1 cup icing sugar, to serve1. Preheat oven to 175C. Grease and line a loaf pan. Place the butter, flour, buttermilk, eggs, sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl. Using hand beaters (or a wooden spoon), mix until well combined.2. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 45 - 50 min or until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cool in the pan for 5 min then transfer to a wire rack. To serve, remove the pulp from the passionfruit and place in a small bowl. Add the icing sugar and stir to combine until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Drizzle passionfruit mixture over the cake.

If you can't find passionfruit, use the juice and pulp of any tart fruit you love.ENJOY. Adapted from a recipe in the Herald Sun's taste.com.au, May 6, 2009.

Tom Roberts

Spring Sale and Open House - May 9

Rosalie Gascoigne

black bird box 1976

Book and Music List

"it's raining in Mango" by Thea Astley. Bought it used in Nimbin. The guy selling books couldn't help me out when I asked about it. A nice surprise. Traces 5 generations of a family with Irish and Canadian roots in northern Queensland.

Ruth Parks: "Missus", "The Harp in the South", and "Poor Man's Orange". Set in country Aus and on to Sydney. Follows an economically (and socially) deprived family over several generations. It's pathetic at a basic level, but inspiring to see how certain individuals try to escape their status.

"The Castle" and "Crackerjack" -- 2 sweet little Aussie movies. In "The Castle", a man fights a powerful corporation from taking over his house to enlarge the airport acquisition. "Crackerjack" is about the members of a lawn bowling club and their fight to save the club without resorting to the pokies.

the waddi tree by Kerry McGinnis (author of The Road to Coorain) -- an authentic account of growing up in the outback in the 1950s/60s